The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c17.s1.54

v1.c17.s1.54

In some cases we have full evidence of historical happenings. Turvaça and Yadu, that is the kings of the two tribes of that time, in whose historical character we have no ground to doubt,⁵ are declared to have been brought safely over the stream by Indra’s aid, doubtless procured by the help of the priest, and he is the great god who assists Sudās at the instance of Vasiṣṭha⁶ in the battle with the ten kings, and makes him overthrow his rivals, bringing them to death in the stream of the Paruṣṇī, and then assisting the king to overthrow Bheda. Similar is the statement that he aided Suçravas and slew 60,099 of his enemies, though the number is fabulous. It is he on whom men call in battle, and, little as the Vedic poetry is inspired with warlike spirit, here and there it is clear that the poet has caught some of the tone of war poetry.¹ Doubtless part of the lavishing of wealth which is a merit of Indra's was manifested in the giving of victory in the strife for cows, which, as the chief form of property of primitive Indian society, made up the main object to be won in a mere foray. Indra too appears in close relations with his worshippers, as a friend, a brother, a father or father and mother in one. The epithet Kauçika denotes him as the family god of the Kuçikas. He is the generous god *par excellence*, whence the title Maghavan, bountiful, is almost exclusively his in the Vedic ritual literature, and is his common name in post-Vedic texts. His bounty includes wives and also children.